Tappet barrel



June 23, 1959 G. R. MOORE TAPPET BARREL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1,1955 June 23, 1959 G; R. MOORE 2,891,525

' TAPPET BARREL.

Filed Aug. 1, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 A ,mm

III a x uni F 3 ffirE'z-zfqr Cur RICHARD MoORE June 23, 1959 MOORE2,891,525

- TAPPET BARREL Filed Aug. 1, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' GuY RIcHARD MoonsTAPPET BARREL Guy Richard Moore, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor toTll11(ipmpsou Ramo Wooldridge Inc., a corporation of Applica tion August1, 1955, Serial No. 525,485 5 Claims. (Cl. 123-90 This invention relatesto an improved tappet or tappet barrel .for use in valve train linkagesand the like and the method of making a tappet or tappet barrel. Moreparticularly, the invention deals with a tappet or tappet barrel thatmaybe economically manufactured and endowed with long wearingcharacteristics. The tappet or tappet barrel may be used with ahydraulic valve lifter or employed as a solid tappet.

: According to the invention, a tappet or tappet barrel is cold extrudedfrom a slug of mild steel or other formable material. The tappet barrelgenerally includes a cylindricahbody having an integral cylindricalflange extending from one end of the body. The interior wall of theflange is substantially contiguous with the bore of the body, while theoutside surface of the flange is tapered outwardly from a point abovethe closed end of the body to the free peripheral edge thereof. A diskof wear-resisting material, such as a hardenable alloy iron or steel isformed in a suitable manner, such as by machining same from acylindrical bar. The disk is annularly grooved and formed to function asa tappet foot, and fastened to one end of the body member. Thecylindrical flange on the body member is folded into the disk to lockthe two elements into tight engagement with one another. The barrel bodyis then cut to a desired length. The outside diameter of the barrel bodyis ground to size and the foot is finished by a polishing, grinding orhoning operation.

Where it is contemplated is using the tappet or tappet barrel with ahydraulic valve lifter, one end of the body memberis closed and theconnecting flange depends therefrom. In assembling the wear-resistingdisk to the flanged end of the tappet barrel, it is important that thedisk intimately engages the closed end of the barrel so the load of thevalve train may be directly transmitted against the closed end of thebarrel. Otherwise, if the load were to be transmitted through the jointbetween the foot and the barrel, the tappet foot or disk would becomeloose in operation and the barrel would fail.

-In a solid tappet, the distribution of load may be accomplished inseveral ways. A shoulder on the tappet barrel may transfer the load fromthe tappet foot to the barrel and-then to the push rod seat, or the pushrod load may be applied directly to the tappet foot. Also,

the push rod load may be applied directly to the tappet.

" Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to obviate the abovedifiiculties and provide an improved tappet 2,891,525 Patented June v23,

or tappet barrel that may be economically fabricated by mass productionand endowed with long wearing characteristics.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of fabricating atappet or tappet barrel by cold extrusion.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a methodof fabricating a tappet or tappet barrel from a formable material by acold extrusion process and attaching a wear-resisting disk to the bottomof the tappet or tappet barrel for contacting a cam surface.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a method offabricating a tappet barrel for use with hydraulic valve lifters,wherein the tappet is cold extruded from mild steel, the barrel bore ischrome plate or otherwise coated with a wear-resistant material, and ahardenable or chilled cast iron disk or a heat treated steel disk islocked to the bottom of the tappet barrel to provide a long wearing camcontacting surface.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a tappetbarrel constructed of formable material with a wear-resistant coatedbarrel bore, and a tappet foot is locked in position on the bottom ofthe tappet barrel, wherein the tappet barrel assembly may beinexpensively manufactured, but endowed with long wearingcharacteristics.

Another object of this inventionis to provide a method of fabricating atappet barrel, wherein the barrel bore need not be machined to provideproper tappet operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tappet of lowweight.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of the drawings, whichillustrates the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of an extruded tappet barrel for usewith hydraulic valve lifters constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

Figure 2 is an axial sectional view of a completed tappet barrel for usewith hydraulic valve lifters illustrating a tappet foot in lockedrelationship with respect to the bottom of the tappet barrel;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, of anassembly die used to assemble the tappet foot and the tappet barrelaccording to the invention;

- Figure 4 is an axial sectional view of a solid tappet having anextruded tappet barrel connected to a tappet foot, wherein a shoulder isprovided adjacent the foot 7 for transferring the load from the foot tothe push rod seat through the tappet barrel;

- Figure 5 is an axial sectional view of a solid tappet of a differentform, wherein the push rod load is applied directly to the tappet foot;

Figure 6 is an axial sectional view of a solid tappet of still anotherform, wherein the push rod load is also applied directlyto the tappetfoot; and

. Figure 7 is an axial sectional view of a solid tappet of still adiiferent form, wherein the push rod load is applied directly to thetappet foot through an inter- 3 although other uses and purposes may beapparent to one skilled in the art.

In fabricating the tappet or tappet barrel, a slug of mild steel orother suitable formable material is cold extruded to a desired size toform a rough extruded tappet or tappet barrel, asindicated .at 10 inFigure 1.. While the material used for extruding the barrels could" beany mild steel, it may, for example, be of SAE 1010 steel. In somecases, a light weight material may be preferred to steel. For purposesof setting forth the invention the tappet or tappet barrel will bedescribed as being formed from steel.

During the extrusion process, the steel or formable material is coatedwith phosphate, soap, or any other suitable material for lubricationpurposes. The cold extrusion process is unique in that no additionaloperations are required on the inside diameter or bore, such as honingor grinding to effect a properly formed bore.

As seen in Figure l, the rough extruded tappet barrel for use withhydraulic valve lifters includes a cylindrical body having an outsidecylindrical surface 10a and an inside diameter or bore 10b. The barrelis open at the upper end which is irregular or uneven as indicated at11, and closed at the lower end by a bottom member 12. Depending fromthe bottom 12 is an annular flange 13 for locking a disk-shaped tappetfoot 14 thereto, as illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring again to Figure l the annular flange 13 is provided with aninside diameter and cylindrical surface 13a which is substantially inaxial alignment with the barrel bore 11b. The inside surface 13a mergeswith a rounded portion 13b, functioning as a bead or lip. An outsidewall 130 of the annular flange 13 flares outwardly from a point abovethe bottom 12 of the barrel to the free end of the flange therebyproviding the flange with a thicker Wall than the barrel wall. Asomewhat curvate portion 13:?! connects the rounded bead 13b with theflared wall 130 to form the bottom end of the annular flange. It isnoted that where the inner surface or wall 13a of the flange meets thebottom wall 12a of the bottom 12, a fillet or rounded section is formedto intimately receive the peripherally rounded edge of the tappet foot14.

While the tappet foot 14 may be secured to the bottom of the tappetbarrel 10 in any suitable manner, such as by welding or crimping, in theinstant embodiment, the annular flange 13 is deformed over the upper endof the tappet foot 14.

The tappet foot 14 is generally in the shape of a disk and may be formedby molding, machined from an iron bar, or otherwise suitably formed. Thetappet foot is preferably constructed of a wear-resisting material, suchas a hardenable alloy iron bar. Preferably, the properties of the alloyiron are as follows:

Total carbon 3.1-3.45 Combined carbon 85-1.25 Silicon 2.15-2.45Manganese .60-.90 Sulphur .17 Max. Phosphorus .20 Max. Nickel .20.40Max. Chromium .851.20 Molybdenum .40.60

As already set forth, the tappet foot 14 is generally disk-shaped, andis provided with an upper surface 14a adapted to be placed in intimatecontact with the bottom surface 12a of the bottom wall 12 of the tappetbarrel 10, and a bottom surface 14b for riding on a cam surface. Informing the tappet foot 14, an annular groove 140 is formed intermediatethe top and bottom along the peripheral edge. The groove merges with abead 14d along the top surface 14a, and with a cylindrical side wall Me,the latter terminating at the bottom surface 14b. The diameter of thecylindrical side wall 142 is slightly smaller than the outside diameterof the tappet barrel 10 to thereby preclude the possibility of thetappet foot from engaging the tappet guide wall.

In assembling the tappet foot 14 and the tappet barrel 10, the topsurface 14a of the tappet foot 14 is brought into intimate contact withthe bottom surface 12a of the tappet barrel bottom 12, as seen inFigure 1. As also noted the upper rounded edge 14d of the foot 14 inti-4% mately engages the fillet provided between the inner wall 13a of theflange 13 and the bottom surface 12a of the bottom 12.

It is important that the top surface of the tappet foot 14 be incomplete intimate contact with the bottom surface of the tappet barrelbottom 12 in the application of the valve train load to the tappet foot.The load must be imposed directly against the closed end of the barreland not through the extruded joint where the foot is attached to thebarrel. If the latter were to occur, the tappet foot would become loosein operation and the barrel would fail.

The foot and barrel are placed in an assembly die as seen in Figure 3for deforming the locking flange 13 over the end of the tappet foot 14to produce a completed assembly as seen in Figure 2.

After the tappet barrel has been formed, and before or after the tappetfoot has been attached to the barrel, the barrel is cut to a desiredlength, such as cutting along the dotted line 11a in Figure 1. Theoutside diameter or surface 10a is subjected to a grinding operation toconform with specified tolerances.

Subsequent to the assembly of the foot and barrel the foot is finishedby a polishing, grinding, or honing operation or a combination thereofto provide a precision surface for riding the actuating cam. Thisoperation may, of course, be performed before attaching the foot to thebarrel, but the former procedure is preferred.

After the barrel and foot have been assembled, and the barrel has beencut to length, when using with a hydraulic valve the barrel bore may beplated with a thin film of wear-resisting material, and as chromium tominimize internal wear.

The wear-resisting material may be deposited on the barrel bore by anysuitable method, such as an electroplating process. Of course, thetappet barrel could be used without plating the bore and the barrelbores of the solid tappet in Figures 4-7 would obviously not be plated.

The cylindrical flange 13 on the bottom member 10 is folded into thegrooved tappet foot 14 by any suitable assembly die, such as illustratedin Figure 3. The tappet barrels of the embodiments shown in Figures 4and 5 may also be joined to their respective seat by this assembly die.However, the tappet barrels of the solid tappets in Figures 6 and 7would not be attached to their respective tappet feet by an assembly dieof this type.

Referring now generally to Figure 3, the assembly die includes asubstantially square base 15. Rigidly secured to the base 15 is a diecasing 16 by means of a plurality of bolts 17 that may be annularlyarranged in a conventional manner adjacent the periphery of the casing.The casing 16 is recessed in the top to receive a die bushing holder 18,the latter of which is centrally recessed to receive a die bushing 19. Adie clamp 20 overlies the die bushing 19 and bushing holder 18, and isrigidly secured to the die casing 16 by a plurality of annularlyarranged lag bolts 21.

The die casing 16 is centrally bored at 16a to slidably receive a post22. Abutting the bottom of the post 22 is a pressure pin 23, theposition of which is controlled in any suitable manner such as bypneumatic or hydraulic means (not shown). The upper end of the post 22is diametrically reduced and sized to be snugly received within thetappet barrel bore and abut against the inside surface of the barrelbottom. The die bushing holder 18, the die bushing 19 and the die clamp20 are provided with aligned centrally disposed apertures 18a, 19a, and20a, respectively. The aperture 19a of the die bushing 19 is accuratelysized to snugly receive the outside diameter of the barrel.

A punch 24, sized to be tolerably received within the bore 1% of the diebushing 19, is provided to abut against the bottom surface of the tappetfoot 14 and draw the tappet barrel downwardly through the die bushing todeform the locking flange 13 over the top end of the tappet foot 14. Thepunch 24 is clamped to a punch holder 25 bya clamp 26., The clamp 26 isguidably received on the punch holder 25 by. a series of doll pins 27and rigidly secured thereto by a plurality of lag bolts 28. Wherein thisassembly die maybe used to assemble the foot and barrel of the solid"tappet shown in'Figure 5, it is understood that'the end ofthe punch 24may be recessed to accommodate the protrusion on the foot.

In operation of the assembly die, a pressure is exerted against thepunch 24 to advance the tappet barrel and foot through the die bushing19. A suitable pressure, less than the punch pressure, is, of course,exerted against the post 22 by the pin 23 to provide the properalignment of the tappet barrel with respect to the die bushing 19.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 illustrate forms of solid tappets which may beformed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, asindicated by the numerals 30, 31, 32 and 33. Each tappet generallyincludes a cylindrical body member or tappet barrel 34, 35, 36 and 37,

respectively, and a disk-shaped tappet foot 38, 39, 40 and 41,respectively.

The tappet barrel of the tappet 30 is provided with an inwardlyextending radial flange 34a near the bottom thereof which rests on theupper surface of the tappet foot 38. The tappet foot 38 is provided withan annular groove 38a for receiving a connecting head or lip 34b of thetappet barrel 34 and locking the tappet foot 38 to the tappet barrel. Aninverted dome-shaped member 42 having a downwardly extending skirt 42adefines the push rod seat of the tappet 30. The radial skirt 42a restson an annular shoulder 340 formed on the internal bore of the tappetbarrel body 34. Hence, it is seen that the load from the tappet foot 38is transmitted to the push rod seat through the barrel 34.

Referring now to Figure 5, the barrel 35 of the tappet 31 is providedlikewise with an inwardly extending radial flange 35a near the lower endof the barrel body in a similar manner as the tappet 30. This embodimentdiffers from that in Figure 4 in that the push rod seat is integrallyformed with the tappet foot 39 as indicated at 39 to thereby transmitthe push rod load directly to the tappet foot. The push rod seat 39a isformed by an upwardly protruding portion which extends beyond the radialflange 35a of the body 35. The tappet foot 39 and the tappet barrel 35are similarly connected as the embodiment in Figure 4, wherein anannular groove 39b of the tappet foot receives an annular lip or head350 of the tappet barrel 35.

The embodiment in Figure 6 illustrates another form of a solid tappet,wherein the tappet foot 40 is provided with a push rod seat recessedportion 40a to directly transmit the load from the push rod to thetappet foot. The tappet foot is also provided with an annular groove 40baround its periphery to receive a bead or lip 36a of the tappet barrel36 for connecting the tappet foot and tappet barrel.

A still diflerent form of solid tappet is illustrated in Figure 7. Inthis embodiment, the tappet foot is provided with the usual annulargroove 41a to receive a lip or bead 37a of the cylindrical body memberof tappet barrel 37 for connecting these elements. It is noted that theupper surface of the tappet foot 41 is completely flat as indicated at41b. A push rod seat is defined in an inverted dome-shaped member 43having an elongated downwardly extending cylindrical skirt 43a. Thebottom peripheral edge of the skirt 43a rests on the upper surface 41bof the tappet foot 41 to thereby directly transmit the push rod loadfrom the push rod seat to the tappet foot.

It will be understood that the tappet barrels of tappets 30, 31, 32 and33 are formed by extrusion in the same manner as already described inconnection with the tappet barrel of Figures 1 and 2. Also, the tappetfoots 38, 39,

6 40 and 41' willb'e formed in a like manner as described in connectionwith the tappet foot 14. The foregoing tappet barrel and method ofmaking the same provides a long wearing assembly that may beeconomically'produced with a minmum of production time.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention, but it is understood that this application is to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A solid tappet comprising a tappet barrel of cylindrical shape andhaving a circumferential flange extending from one end thereof, ahardened tappet foot of diskshape having an annular groove for receivingthe circumferential flange of the tappet barrel for locking the bottomsurface of the barrel and the entire top surface of the tappet foottogether in intimate contact, an annular shoulder provided on theinternal wall of the tappet barrel above the bottom thereof engaging theupper face of the tappet foot, and a push rod seat member received insaid tappet barrel in abutting relationship against the annularshoulder, whereby the tappet foot load is transmitted from the tappetfoot to the push rod seat member through the tappet barrel.

2. A solid tappet comprising an open ended cylindrical tappet barrelhaving a locking member at one end thereof, and a tappet foot whoseprojection upon said tappet barrel lies entirely within thecircumference of the latter and which has an annular groove inengagement with the locking member of the tappet barrel and an upwardlyextending portion received within the tappet barrel, said portion havinga recessed portion defining a push rod seat, whereby the tappet footload is transmitted directly to the push rod seat.

3. A solid tappet comprising an open ended cylin' drical tappet barrelhaving a locking member at one end thereof, a tappet foot of disk-shapewhose projection upon said tappet barrel lies entirely the circumferenceof the latter and which has an annular groove in locking engagement Withthe locking member of the tappet barrel and provided with an upper flatsurface, and an inverted dome-shaped member defining a push rod seat andhaving an elongated downwardly extending skirt portion received Withinthe bore of the tappet barrel and supported on the upper flat surface ofthe tappet foot, whereby the push rod seat load is transmitted directlyto the tappet foot through the domeshaped member.

4. A tappet barrel for use with hydraulic valve litters comprising acylindrical body of extruded material, said body being closed at one endand open at the other end, a locking flange extending from the closedend of said body, and a wear-resisting disk-shaped tappet foot whoseprojection upon said tappet barrel lies entirely within thecircumference of the latter and which has a peripheral groove engaged bysaid locking flange to secure the tappet foot to said body, the uppersurface of said tappet foot being in complete intimate engagement withthe closed end of the cylindrical body to thereby assure that the tappetfoot load is exerted directly against the closed end of the barrel.

5. The combination of a tappet barrel extruded from a slug of formablematerial and having a deformable annular circumferential flangeextending from one end thereof, a locking lip on said flange, aWear-resisting disc having an annular peripheral groove on the edgethereof, said tappet barrel comprising a cylindrical body having a outerdiameter greater than the maximum outer diameter of said disc, said discbeing secured to said tappet barrel by engagement of said locking lip onsaid deformed flange in said annular peripheral groove of said disc.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Church Dec. 8, 1925 McDonald Nov. 13, 1928McDonald Nov. 13, 1928 Boland Apr. 28, 1931 Almen Sept. 15, 1931 8Wetherald Mar. 1, 1932 Hothersall Mar. 10, 1942 Rockwell Oct. 19, 1954Russell June 12, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Apr. 30, 1953

